President Akufo-Addo Pledges End to Power Outages, Commissions Bridge Power Project
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians that the days of erratic power supply, popularly referred to as dumsor, are over. Speaking at the commissioning of the Bridge Power Project in Kpone, Greater Accra, on November 19, the President emphasized his administration’s commitment to ensuring energy stability and security.
The Bridge Power Project, a $1.2 billion facility, is expected to enhance Ghana’s thermal energy production by 7%. President Akufo-Addo described the project as a critical step toward achieving sustainable energy supply, which he noted is vital for economic development and improving the lives of Ghanaians.
Highlighting the significant role of energy in national progress, the President underscored its impact across various sectors, including agriculture, technology, and manufacturing. He assured the public that the country would no longer suffer from the debilitating power shortages that disrupted daily life and economic activities in previous years.
“All of us remember the difficult days of dumsor between 2012 and 2016, a period that tested the resilience of every Ghanaian,” he said. “Today, as we inaugurate the Bridge Power station, we send a strong message that energy shortages are a thing of the past.”
The facility, located in Kpone’s industrial zone, is a combined-cycle power plant with a capacity of up to 515 megawatts. Under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), it will supply electricity while being supported by a Put-Call Option Agreement (PCOA) with the government.
The President also addressed concerns over financial challenges in the energy sector, pledging to settle arrears owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to strengthen the industry’s resilience.
The commissioning of the Bridge Power Project marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s pursuit of energy independence, demonstrating the government’s commitment to sustainable development and economic growth.
